She didn’t want him home. He didn’t want to be there. Finally something they could agree on. Ben Sumner should have been on top of the world. His company was on the verge of going public, a move that would make him richer than God. His best friend was getting married (translation: he’d have his pick of hot bridesmaids for the weekend — and only the weekend).Life was good.Instead, he was called … weekend).
Life was good.
Instead, he was called home for the first time in nearly ten years to bury his father — a loss he had yet to deal with and had no idea how to process. Worse still, his parents had leveraged the family land and his childhood home to build a lodge that was too big for his mother to run on her own. But there was one thing Ben knew one thing about running a successful business —remove the emotions.
His plan was simple. Cut his mother’s outlandish pet projects, pay off the loan, and head back to his life in Seattle in a few months. It was a solid strategy.
Until she walked in.
Maggie Lawrence — the untouchable beauty queen in high school who never even knew he existed was now the manager at his family’s lodge. She noticed him now. He made sure of it. She was hell bent on keeping him from cutting his mother’s budget. Maggie was about to learn he was no longer the shy, quiet boy from high school.
He was used to being the boss.
She was used to being in charge.
What could possibly go wrong?
This book was previously published as His Frenemy
Born to be My Baby, Book 1 (Ben and Maggie)
Never Say Goodbye, Book 2 (Aaron and Kayleigh)
Thank You for Loving Me, Book 3 (Max and Devlin)
With These Two Hands, Book 4 (Aaron and Kayleigh)
I’ll Be There for You, Book 5 (Jake and Lina)
If That’s What It Takes, Book 6 (Grant and Sophie)
more
Awesome book
Cute but not distinctive enough. There wasn’t enough show. Therapy is fine and forgiveness is a long process, I.e. I get it no quick fixes. But the entire book tried to subvert form. No heated arguments from the start just passive aggressive posing and backhanded subversion. It continues with the inciting incident, climax, resolution and denouement being contrary to form. It only works well in the denouement where it is cute. The resolution works but drags a beat too long. But my issue is if you go contrary then it has to be replacing the standard with something more interesting. And it’s not. Heated arguments, leading to sex, leading to a declaration of feelings, sparking a reversal of all forward progress and a retreat, a grand gesture, and an engagement is the formula for enemies to lovers. In almost each instance the tried and true would have given better writing results.
i enjoy quick easy read books. Mostly Christian romance novels.
I couldn’t put this down. It just seemed so realistic
Too much explicit sex. Story did not need that.
Loved this book and its characters!!
Delightful story. I enjoyed all of the characteristics and look forward to reading book 2
I wish you’d let people know if the book has sex scenes. I’m tired OD not being able to finish books because I don’t enjoy reading too much sexual scenes.
I thought it was a great read, hard to put down except the foul language.
Good story about life, love and family with some romance thrown in.
Excellent reading
Okay book but not good enough to keep on my kindle.
Kept me interested.
Good book that holds your interest
I love big families and small towns. So this was just my cup of tea.
Heart warming story, Maggie has had a rough childhood but a nice couple higher her to help in their lodge and give her hope and confidence and mostly love. Great read!
Easy summer read.
This is a fabulous start to the Sumner Family series. The family is consistent of six brothers. The family owns a lodge in Canyon Creek but all of the men have forged their way in their own professional journeys but are brought back by the father’s death.
This is Maggie and Ben’s story.
When Ben is brought back to Canyon Creek, it is for the loss of his father but he soon realizes that the family business is about to embark on an expansion process that was started before the untimely loss of his father. He now sees his mother and his old high school crush manning the business helm of this expansion. He has no idea of their abilities but is quick to pass judgement regarding their decisions . His mother is grieving the loss of the love of her life and Maggie may be an employee but is not family. He is there to help but may soon realize that these women may be so much more than even he realized.
Maggie Lawrence is a beautiful, sassy, outspoken women that has always been overlooked for her intelligence due to her classic good looks. She must work harder to prove herself and has always been told that she is not cut out for the business world. She has certainly proved herself the Mr. and Mrs. Sumner over the years and has become a valuable employee, friend and right hand woman to them. She is now like family. She knows that the loss of their father will be bringing all the men home what she doesn’t see coming is Ben.
Ben is now back and comes face to face with the family lodge and his secret high school crush Maggie. The lodge had recently signed on to expand but Ben does not have faith in the women at the helm. His mother is grieving the loss of the love of her life and yes Maggie may be a valued employee but she is not family. Maggie soon realizes that Ben thinks that he is in charge and that she must step up , butt heads with him and show him that she is just not a pretty face!
I absolutely loved their banter and initial resistance for each other . It was a fabulous read!
~~Michele McMullen ~
I love this book, & thoroughly enjoyed reading it! It is a touching
& emotional story. After an unforseen
tragedy, the Sumner brothers return home. After going through the finances,
they see that The Lodge, is in trouble.
Their parents, John & Valerie Sumner are expanding their business. Construction has already started. Maggie manages The Lodge, along side John & Valerie.
Ben has been in love with Maggie, since high school. But he didn’t think she would notice a book nerd, like Ben.
Because of the type of loan they have
for the The Lodge expansion,
Ben & Maggie, are constantly at odds over it. He wants to cut everything.
She hopes that he will see what his parent’s plans are for the future.
As the spend time together, even
with all the tension between them,
their connection is undeniable.
Ben’s business, & life is in Seattle.
He is a workaholic. Ben enjoys women, without a commitment. Maggie was raised in Canyon Creek. She will always be grateful to John & Valerie for giving her a chance, & a job. Having lived with
an alcoholic father, who was verbally abusive, Maggie has a lot of baggage. She’s not even sure what real love is.
The story will draw you in, from the very beginning, & keep you reading till the end.
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!
Born to be My Baby: A Canyon Creek Novel- Book 1 by Lori Ryan and Kay Manis is the first book of the Summer Family. This was a very emotional book as it started with a tragic death. I cried buckets! The first book is Ben Summer and Maggie Lawrence. All six of the Summer’s Brothers left the Canyon, but return home for the services and also band together to help solve the financial problems that the lodge is having. Maggie Lawrence is out to prove that she is an asset to the lodge and that she has over come her childhood. Ben and Maggie have such spark together. This is a emotional, sexy, sweet, funny and heartwarming story. Bravo Lori and Kay Manis!